Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-17
Discussion in the House of Delegate,


Discussion In the House OF Delegates
Tn the House of Delegates yesterday MIR.
Payne, of Fanquier, called up the bill re.
ported from the committee for courts of jus
tice 10 provide for the removal of treasurers
of counties, cities and towns in certain
cases. The bill provides that the Governor
shall have power 10 suspend the treasurer
of any county or city Of this Commonwealth
or other officer charged with the collection
of the public revenues, for misbehavior in
capacity or neglect of official duty. The
bill came up on its engrossment, and in adj
yocsting the measure Mr.. Payne said:
"a desperate remedy for desperate dis
ease ia absolutely essential, and l think that
by some process or other we should stop the
coupon raid upon the treasury. This is
valuable auxiliary to the law now in opera
ton. Ifyou pass this law you put it in the
power of the Governor (who l know will
exercise it wisely and discreetly) and if the
treasurer does not conform to the law his
official head will come off" It is absolute
ly necessary, said MIR. Payne, that this bill
should become law in order TO make the
act known as"the coupon crusher" effective,
f r if the treasurers accept coupons there
will be nothing to sue for. For the same
reasons it is essential TO the effective opera
ton Of the law now in existence requiring
treasurers to refuse coupons and levy.
Taken in connection with this last.mention-
ed law, it is believed that it would he abso
utely etiectual in preventing the Use of the
coupon, because it would bring about har
monious action all over the State in regard
70 its rejection. For if any considerable
number of Taxpayers sued the collecting
officers-the law officers of the Stately
impeding the trials,we would soon have the
docket of the Federal courts 20 full of these
cases that the taxpayer, seeing that a long
time would elapse before the trial Of his
case, and in the meantime being out of his
money, with no hope OF getting verdict
which would compensate him (the iuries
having uniformly refused to give punitive
verdcts), would be deferred from tender
ing coupons, and the raid of the coupon on
the Treasury would thus be stayed. He
said in conclusion that it was an exact copy
of the Alabama law and he was sure it
would accomplish the object intended.
Mr. Munford. OF Pittsylvania, moved to
postpone the bill and to make it the special
order for to day. Like all other matters
pertaining 10 the debt he did not think it
proper to proceed until the debt commits
sion reported.
Mr. Echols, of Augusta, 10 opposing this
motion, said 1--WE have been postponiDg
legislation to obstruct the coupon the whole
of this extra session in Difference TO appeals
similar to the one just made by tho gen
tleman from Pittsylvania-tha nothing
should be done until the debt commission
reports. The bondholders have not shown
this courtesy and declined during this inter
i'm TO sell and urge the tender of coupons,
but their agents have been flooding the
State with them regardless of the debt
commission or the result Gifts deliberations.
l, therefore, Mr.. Speaker, am for proceed
ing with our work and enacting such meas
ures as we deem necessary to meet the
worst contingency l am not willing to
wait longer, but to take steps at once TO
protect ourselves. If the commission arrive
at a settlement, and trust it will the egisa-
ton under discussion can do no harm, and
hope that the consideration of the bill offer.
ed by the gentleman from Fauquier will be
acted upon now, and that the motion OF tho
gentleman from Pittsylvania will he voted
down."
Mr.. Porter dem aud Mr.. Waddill (rep.)
both held that The proposed law is uncon-
stitutional. The latter said II am sur
prised at the gentleman from Fauquier, who
comes from that section which prdes itself
upon the fact that it is the home of the
chivalrous and the brave, as it is" He de.
olared that the measure was illegal, un-
righteous, ubiquitous, and sinful"
He then branched off upon discussion
of the political outlook and was interrupt
ed by Mr.. Payne. who laughingly thanked
the gentleman from Henrico for his solicit
tude for the democratic party, saying as ne
did. I'VE are willing 10 try the measure
ANYHOW"
Mr.. Mallory (rep.i, of Brunswick, said it
seemed to him that the bill would be a re.
sort to a very high handed measure.
The House finally agreed TO postpone the
of the bill until to day.
COURT OF APPEALS YEsTERDAY-Moons
against Wexford, Judge. ar
gued by Col. R. T Hubbard for petitioner